> 1.) User interface - The interface to the softphones is really less > than ideal. This includes the problem mentioned earlier about not > hearing ringing unless you have your headset on, dialing with the > mouse, not having telephone service if your PC isn't on, etc. The > traditional telephone "interface" of handset, dialpad, etc. is > utterly pervasive and very simple and user-friendly. You lose that > with a softphone. Well, not with all softphones. I build mine trying to reproduce my Nortel phone model 9316. Also, I wanted to use the softphone without using the mouse, so I made it so that you can dial with the numeric pad (using / for #), you can pick up a line by pressing F1 for line 1, F2 for line 2, etc. Want to hangup, just press ESC
I received a lot of positive comment about it, and most people like the fact that it looks like and behave like a normal phone. > 2.) Quality/Cost - For good softphone quality, you HAVE to use a > headset or external USB handset, etc. This is a pain, because users > don't always want to use a headset, they want the choice. The other > problem is that one of the main advantages of the softphone is that > it is cheap, and paying for a good headset reduces that advantage > (and you DON'T want to skimp on headsets). The other factor is that > softphone quality depends on soundcard quality, etc. As a Mac shop, > this ought to be a smaller problem. I agree on the point that the quality of the headset and the soundcard makes a huge difference on the quality of the call. But compare the price of a good soudcard/headset with the price of a Cisco phone and you will still have money left to go have a nice meal with your girlfriend. > The other thing to keep in mind is that your users, especially your > boss, are going to be judging the Asterisk system, and you > performance, based mostly on their interaction with the system. If > their main interface to the system is a Cisco 7940G or Polycom 501, > they are likely to be impressed because the new system gives them > such major benefits, but doesn't require them to use funny computer > phones, start up their PC to receive or make a call, etc. If they > have to use X-Lite, then their reaction is likely to be "This system > works well, but I hate that I have to have my PC on, I have to dial > with the mouse or numeric keypad, If software update is installing an > update voice quality goes to hell, etc. This is not to mention that > if you need Gigabit for the file transfers, etc that your computers > are doing, then voice quality is likely to go to hell whenever they > initiate a major file transfer. I agree, your boss will judge the system based on is experience with it. So don't skim on the quality if you want to keep him happy. _______________________________________________ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
